One Last Kiss

The next year and a-half passed by quicker than it seemed to for all of Black Veil Brides, particularly Andy and Ash. Before they knew it, it was June of 2015, and they were still going strong as a band. Their fourth album had been released the previous fall, just a couple months before Legacy’s first birthday, and they’d started touring almost nonstop to support it.

Poor Ash was exhausted more often than not and often had to hand his bass off to his husband, but the fans understood why. They’d released a birth announcement for their daughter three months after her birth when he started considering touring again, so the fans knew why he had to skip out on shows when he chose to do so. Taking care of their baby was hard when they were at home, but it was only made harder when they had to do it on the road since they refused to leave her behind. All in all, though, she was happy, safe, and healthier than a horse, so for that they were glad and thankful.

By the time June of 2015 rolled around, though, they were all sick to Death of touring and wanted a break, so they decided to cut the tour short. Some fans weren’t happy about that, but knowing that little Legacy needed stability and her parents were likely exhausted kept them from bitching too much. It also helped that Jake and Ella had gotten married and were expecting a baby of their own, as well as that, although it was sad for them, Jinxx and Sammi split up.

“I’m guessing you got Legacy down for her nap?” Ash was stretched out on his and Andy’s bed, fighting sleep as he waited for him.

“She’s out like a light,” his lover answered, fighting to stifle a yawn himself.

“Mmm. It’s a shame we’re too tired,” he murmured into his neck as he snuggled up to him, now that he was laying beside him.

“Yeah, ain’t that for sure?” the younger man chuckled, wrapping his arms around him. “I miss that. Ah, the joys of parenthood.”

The bassist couldn’t help an answering chuckle, although it was cut short by another yawn.

“Let’s get some sleep while we can,” Andy murmured into his hair as he gently kissed the top of his head.

“I love you so much, Batman,” his sweetheart yawned, tilting his head back for a proper kiss. “Forever and always.”

“I love you just as much, Outlaw,” he answered, giving him the kiss he desired. “Always and forever.”

It wasn’t long before they drifted into a deep, restful slumber, dreams of theirs and their daughter’s future filling their minds. They’d meant what they said in their vows when they got married just over two years ago about loving one another and no other until the end of time. They’d also meant what they said about loving their daughter wholeheartedly until they drew their dying breath, and even beyond that, no matter what kind of woman she grew up to be. Parental love was a strong emotion, but maternal love was a force to be reckoned with, and while they both said they’d do anything for their daughter, they weren’t quite sure just what limits they’d go to. Unfortunately, they were soon to find out.

* * *

A couple hours after they fell asleep, Andy and Ash were jolted rudely awake by a crash in their living room. They didn’t use the room as often as the den, as it was just too big and didn’t feel cozy enough when it was just them and Legacy, but that’s where the front door was. Instantly alert, they both knew that someone was breaking into their home, but for what purpose, they hadn’t a clue. The younger man immediately bolted upright and grabbed his gun from his nightstand drawer, making sure it was fully loaded and had one in the chamber before he even threw his legs over the edge of the bed.

Terrified over what was happening, the bassist immediately threw his own legs over the edge of the bed and ran as quietly as he could down the hall to the nursery. By the time he got there, the sight that met his eyes was enough to both terrify him and turn him into a raging, senseless bull. The intruder had his daughter in their arms, trying to press a pillow over her little face to suffocate her.

Legacy was fighting back as best she could for a year and a-half-old baby, her instinct to breathe kicking in and making her push the pillow away far enough to turn her head. She let out a little gasp, the intruder trying to block her airways again, and that made Ash see fifteen different shades of red. With a roar the likes of which no one had ever heard leave his mouth, he charged whoever held his daughter, making sure that when he tackled them, his baby was left unharmed and in his arms.

“Shhh, Legacy. It’s okay. Mommy’s here; Mommy’s gotcha,” he crooned softly, trying to hold her attacker at bay with his foot.

“You piece of gay shit,” the attacker hissed. Looking up, he saw that it was a crazed fan who’d tried getting his attention before. “It’s because of fags like you that this world is so messed up.”

Seeing the insanity in her eyes, which left no room for rational thought, the bassist jumped up and ran. He ran to the master bedroom, managing to get the door slammed shut before she could get in there behind him, which bought him just enough time. Whispering as many words of love and reassurance as he could to his daughter, he laid her in the closet floor and told her to keep quiet, not to make a sound, so the bad lady wouldn’t find her. Thankfully, she was extremely smart for her age and understood that her survival depended upon her silence, and she nodded. He gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead before closing the closet door, leaving his baby all alone and engulfed in darkness.

“You should’ve killed yourself ages ago, you fag!” The door to the master bedroom burst open after several kicks to it, and their attacker was right on top of him.

“More like you need help, you psychotic bitch!” Ash screamed in response.

“Die, fag!” she screeched. The next thing he knew she had a butcher knife in her hand. Where she’d gotten it from, he had no clue, but he wasn’t going down without a fight.

With his own survival instinct kicking in, he grabbed her wrists and tried to get the knife away from her, hearing his husband’s footsteps coming down the hall toward the commotion. This bitch was stronger than she looked, though, and he wondered if she was strung out of her head on coke and PCP or something. Just as Andy got to their doorway, his hand slipped because of her wild struggles.

His eyes widened and he gasped in both pain and shock as she sank the knife into his chest, either right next to or directly into his beating heart. His knees buckled and he hit the ground just as his lover stepped into the doorway, but thankfully had the presence of mind to attempt landing on his back. An outraged and anguished cry was heard, then a gunshot, and he knew that the love of his life had shot his attacker, especially when she fell to the floor beside him with a loud thud! That brought him little peace of mind, though, as he fought to breathe and his vision started to waver.

“Ash! Ashley!” His husband now held him in his arms, his head resting against his chest as he draped his legs over his lap.

“A-Andy,” the bassist stuttered, coughing up blood. “I-I l-love y-you.”

“Ashes, you’ll be all right. Help’s on the way,” Andy told him, trying to stay as calm as he could.

“I-I’m n-not gonna m-make i-it,” he said, seeing his life flash before his eyes. “I-I c-can t-tell.”

“No, Outlaw. Don’t talk like that,” the younger man begged desperately. “We’ll get you to the hospital, and you’ll be fine. I’m not the only one who needs you; Legacy does, too.”

“Sh-she’s i-in…the c-closet,” he managed, coughing up another mouthful of blood. “B-but I-I’m…n-not gonna m-make it.”

“Please, just try to hang on,” his lover begged, tears running down his face now.

“I-I c-can’t… T-tell Legacy h-how m-much her m-mommy l-loved her, a-and w-will always l-love h-her,” Ash gasped. “I-I laid d-down m-my life f-for h-hers. I-I l-love you b-both more th-than I c-can ever sc-scream.”

“Ashes, I love you so much. You can’t go,” his lover sobbed, tightening his grip on her. “We need you too much, especially our daughter. How will I be able to live and raise her without you?”

“I-I d-don’t know. B-but you h-have to p-promise m-me…y-you’ll do th-the b-best you c-can.” The bassist looked up at his husband with pleading eyes. “G-gimme o-one last k-kiss b-before I d-die.”

Seeing that there was no way to argue with his sweetheart, that he really was going to die there, Andy found he couldn’t deny him his deathbed wish. He brought him up closer so that his head rested weakly on his shoulder, his arms wrapped tightly around his torso as his legs continued to rest over his lap. The older man was so weak from his blood loss that he couldn’t even wrap his arms around his waist, and that broke his heart worse than his imminent death surely would.

With a gentleness the likes of which he’d never used with the bassist, not even on his most submissive nights, he connected their lips in a kiss sweeter than the one they’d sealed their vows with. Ash tried to gently move his lips and make it seem like it wasn’t the last one they’d ever share, but he was too weak to even really do that. He’d lost too much blood since the initial stabbing, and there was no way he’d survive.

They parted just long enough to look into each other’s eyes, the last time Andy would see the beloved chocolate-brown orbs he loved almost as much as he did their owner and their daughter, more than life itself. He gently stroked his cheek as he told him that he loved him with all his heart and soul, more than he could ever scream, and made a vow to him that he’d never love another like he’d loved him. Ash told him the same, albeit extremely weakly, and swore that he’d be waiting for him on the other side, never to love another soul during that wait as he’d loved him.

Andy couldn’t resist connecting their lips once again to extend the kiss he’d cut short, and he could tell that his sweetheart enjoyed every second of it. Moments later, he felt the older man get a burst of strength that allowed him to wrap his arms tightly around his waist, uncaring of the knife that got shoved deeper into his chest since he was almost dead, anyway. They kept their tight grip on one another and continued their kiss until Ash went limp in his lover’s arms, his eyes closed so that it looked like he was merely sleeping. The younger man knew that his husband, the mother of his child, and the love of his life was dead, and he broke down crying even harder than he had been before, holding his corpse in his arms as police and EMTs stormed his house.

Notes